Ignition mechanism



July 7, 1936. E. B. Nowosn-:LSKI

. IGNITION MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1934 IJNVENTOR. Blf-ward .5. /Vowos//sk/ fat 47/ ORNEY Patented July -'1, 193e UNITED STATES IGNITION MECHANISM Edward B. Nowosielski, Bloomield, N. J., assignor to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 2, 1934, Serial No. 728,793

2 Claims. (Cl. 123-169) This invention relates to ignition devices for internal combustion engines, and particularly, though not exclusively to ignition devices wherein a heating coil is included for first heating the combustion chamber of an engine to expedite the attainment of ignition temperature, whereupon ignition is ,produced by means of a jump spark.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel plug of the type involving the use of a pair or" electrodes separated by a small air gap, with one of the electrodes electrically connected to a glow coil of suitable resistance to produce high heat radiation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plug adapted for the above described purposes and embodying in its construction novel features of practical advantage, including novel-means for housing the glow coil so that the coil and the leads thereto are protected from exposure to the products of combustion;

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein two embodin ments of the invention are shown. it is to be eirpressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only, and is not designed as a denition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

lin the drawing,

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view along the line f2- 2 of Fig. l; and j Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section or a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, the invention is therein shown as incorporated in a compact, symmetrical unit having a shell portion 5 of current conducting material adapted to constitute the negative electrode or the plug. As shown, the shell ii includes an ing threads cut in a member d which, as shown,

has an integral extension 9 of sufficient length to receive and enclose substantially the entire length of the lower unthreaded and thinnerwall section II of the'shell. The member t may be a part of the engine cylinder or it may be an adapter member attachable to the engine cylinder by suitable means adapted to be inserted through the openings I3 and I4.

At its lower end the extension 9 is shown as provided with an inwardly extending portion lli providing an annular ledge I1 on which a sealing washer I 8 rests and is in turn engaged by a Iiange i9 formed on the section I I of the shell just above the spherical lower end-2l thereof. Preferablythe lower end 2i is apertured centrally as shown f at 22 to permit the lower end 24 of the positive electrode 26 to project therethrough. Just above vthe lower end 2d the electrode is of a larger diameter, as indicated at 2l, and the upper surface of the enlarged portion 2l constitutes a seat and support for a plurality of insulating discs 2d of gradually increasing diameter; the upper discs of the series being separated from the electrode by the interposition of the usual insulating wrapper 3l which surrounds almost the entire length of the electrode 26. A second series of insulatingdiscs 3d surround the upper portion of the insulating wrapper 3 l and these are held in assembled relation by the usual cap 36 having its upper surface countersunk as indicated at 3l, to receive the up-I set end 38 of the electrode, while the lower set ci insulating discs 29 is held in assembled relation by the provision of a sleeve 4I threadedly engag= ing the shell 5, as indicated'at d2, the head dit being separated from the head t of the shell 5 by suitable means d6.

The parts thus far described will be understood as functioning in the manner of the conventional spark plug to cause a spark to jump across the air gap between the lower end 2d of the positive electrode and the spherical end 2l of the negativev electrode which, as indicated, is grounded on the cylinder wall through its contact with the member ti, it being understood that a. high tension lead is attached to the cap 3d.

There remains to be described the novel 'manner in which the negative electrode sleeve' it achieves the double function of conducting the high tension spark current and also the current which is used for the purpose of generating suflicient heat to insure ignition of the initial fuel charge.

As shown, such means includes a. coil 49 of current conducting wire having suitable resistance and cross'section, and adapted to be wound about aninsulating sleeve 5I which surrounds the lower section [II of the shell 5, one end of the coil being embedded in the electrode 2l, as indicated at 53, and the other end being led through a longitudinal groove 54 providedin the outer surface oi the upper portion of the shell 5 from which point 

